With the start of the 2023 Spalding Waratah Senior League season around the corner, the competition is shaping up to be the biggest one yet!

Basketball NSW would like to wish all 30 associations competing good luck, as they look to claim the title and hold the Trophy at the end of finals.

Let’s take a look at some players and teams to keep an eye out for, ahead of tip-off tomorrow!

SPALDING WARATAH MEN TEAMS:

• Port Macquarie Dolphins are making their return to the Spalding Waratah Senior League for the first time since 2019.
• Terrell Turner, who played a key role in Maitland Mustangs’ top NBL1 East Men’s squad last season, has signed with the Camden Valley Wildfire men’s team.
• Blacktown Storm join the competition after many successful seasons of Spalding Waratah 1 and 2 Youth Men teams, looking to push their representative players past the U23’s competitions.

SPALDING WARATAH WOMEN TEAMS:

• The Canberra Nationals Academy return after coming out victorious last season with talented players, including those who participated in the 2023 Foot Locker U20’s National Championships.
• Lismore Storm have assembled their team, composed of players across Northern NSW. The team will be coached by former WNBL star and 2019 and 2023 Foot Locker U20’s National Championships NSW Women’s Assistant Coach, Lauren King.
• Moss Vale Magic have signed Madison Samuels and the Fotu-Plaza sisters from their Bankstown and Penrith representative teams.

SPALDING WARATAH 1 YOUTH MEN TEAMS:

• Jonah Pares and Adrian Vuljanic have transferred to Bankstown Bruins for this season, after winning the 2022 finals with the W1YM Penrith Panthers team.
• Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders have signed Nikhil Singh, who scored an average of 36.67 points per game when playing in the Spalding Waratah  U20’s Tournament.
• Blacktown Storm is looking to bring their young and athletic talent to a championship, after finishing undefeated at the Spalding Waratah  U20’s Tournament.

SPALDING WARATAH 2 YOUTH MEN TEAMS:

• Shoalhaven Tigers are set to grow with players signing on from across the state, and their core line-up looking strong coming into the competition.
• Inner West Bulls again bring strong competitors into the league, with a team in each pool for the best chance of winning the competition, signing 10+ players across the state to their core strong team.
• The Sutherland Sharks team looks to be strong again this year, with their core team from last season’s undefeated regular season coming back for another shot at the championship. Blake Mulholland returns with the Sharks, scoring over 110 points to secure the title of top scorer in the Spalding Waratah  U20’s Tournament.

SPALDING WARATAH YOUTH WOMEN TEAMS:

• With 15 teams, this division will split into Division 1 and 2 after Round 13 (on the 25th of June, 2023).
• Division 1 will be comprised of the top 8 teams.
• Division 2 will be made up of the bottom 7 teams.
• Camden Valley Wildfire, Hawkesbury Jets and Springwood Scorchers join the competition as newcomers to the league, looking at continuing to grow their women’s programs in basketball.
• Manly Warringah Sea Eagles are looking to reclaim their championship from last season, resulting in all teams stepping up to fight for the title.

Who will come out of the 2023 Spalding Waratah Senior League victorious, in each division? Only time will tell, but until then, every team will be looking for a Round 1 win, to cement themselves as a threat in the competition.

CLICK HERE to view the fixture.

Spalding continues to be the official naming partner for the league with Spalding also the official game ball. CLICK HERE to purchase.